Doha, Qatar: The 52nd Arab Labour Conference is examining the growing role of start-ups in the digital economy, with discussions focusing on how entrepreneurship and digital transformation can create new employment opportunities while reshaping skills, training needs and labour policies across the region.
Minister of Labour H E Dr Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, attended the opening of the 52nd session of the Arab Labour Conference in Cairo, which brings together delegations from 21 Arab countries, alongside representatives of relevant Arab and international organisations.
The conference is considering the report of the Director-General of the Arab Labour Office on the activities and achievements of the Arab Labour Organisation during 2025, together with a number of reports and issues referred to the current session. These include the outcomes of the 45th session of the Committee on Trade Union Freedoms, held in Cairo in April 2026, and the 24th session of the Arab Committee for Women’s Labour Affairs, held in Kuwait in December 2025.
Discussions are focusing on ways to advance trade union work and strengthen the capacity of trade union organisations in negotiation and social dialogue, enabling them to respond more effectively to the rapid changes shaping the world of work while safeguarding workers’ rights amid evolving economic and technological conditions.
Women’s labour and participation in the workforce also feature on the conference agenda, with discussions drawing on the report on the outcomes of the 24th session of the Arab Committee for Women’s Labour Affairs. The session addresses issues related to supporting women’s participation in the labour market and strengthening their contribution to development, as part of broader Arab efforts to advance labour policies relating to women.
The conference is also examining start-ups in the context of digital transformation, including their role in promoting entrepreneurship and creating new employment opportunities.
